A recent report on Uttar Pradesh’s District Domestic Product for 2023-24 highlights the significant role of the primary sector, particularly agriculture, in boosting the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). The report, prepared by the economics and statistics division of the state’s planning department, shows that the primary sector contributed Rs 6.35 lakh crore to UP’s overall GDP of Rs 25.63 lakh crore. Out of this, Rs 3.96 lakh crore came from the crop sector alone.
According to the report, crop production accounted for 16.8% of the state’s GDP in 2023-24, registering a year-on-year growth of 13.74%. The districts leading in crop output included Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Barabanki, Bijnor, and Badaun. In terms of growth rate, the top-performing districts were Bhadohi, Jalaun, Kanpur Dehat, Rae Bareli, and Jhansi. Notably, 37 districts recorded growth rates above the state average of 13.7%.
Principal Secretary of Planning, Alok Kumar, stated that foodgrains were the primary driver of the crop sector’s Gross State Value Added (GSVA), contributing 40.68%. Fruits and vegetables made up 22.58%, while sugarcane accounted for 19.4% of GSVA, reported The Times of India.
Kumar emphasized UP’s consistent self-sufficiency in foodgrain production and its national leadership in wheat and sugarcane output. In 2023-24, UP produced 6.68 crore tonnes of foodgrain and 3.98 crore tonnes of wheat, accounting for 18.14% and 31.19% of India’s total production, respectively.
The report attributes the sector’s growth to government initiatives like prompt payments and efficient crushing. The leading sugarcane-producing districts were Lakhimpur Kheri (3.22 crore tonnes), Bijnor (2.37 crore tonnes), Sitapur (1.9 crore tonnes), Muzaffarnagar (1.68 crore tonnes), and Meerut (1.46 crore tonnes). The highest increases in sugarcane production were seen in Azamgarh (53.5%), Mau (49.6%), Jaunpur (33.7%), Rae Bareli (24.7%), and Mathura (21%).
